Early Auto Salesman Dies

Herman J. Staebler, of 9641 Main St., Whitmore Lake, one of the early car salesmen who may have sold your grandfather a Reo, an Oakland or a Franklin, died last night at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital after a sudden illness. He was 88. Staebler was the national sales manager for Reo Motor Co. in Lansing from 1908 to 1915. From 1915 to 1935, he was vice president and manager of the Chicago branch of Reo. The Reo Motor Co. was founded by R. E. Olds, one of the pioneers in the auto industry. Not long ago, Staebler recalled that "Howard Coffin built his steam car in our store" and that he drove it around for a couple years before finally selling ito_a_realtor. "It was the first auto I 3 ñ -7 ever sold," Staebler said. The car is now in the Ford Museum in Greenfield Village. As national sales manager of Reo, Staebler traveled all over the country. Reo finally went out of the car business and began manufacturing trucks. In 1935, Staebler joined his brothers, Edward W. and Walter P., who in 1904 had established the first automobile dealership in Washtenaw County. By then they were selling Pontiacs. At various times in his life, Staebler handled sales of Reo, Oakland, Cadillac, Franklin, LaSalle and Pontiac cars. When the Staebler dealership was sold to Klingier Motors in the 1950's, it was then the second oldest Pontiac dealer in the nation. Among the early cars the firm had sold were the Toledo Steamer and the Tri-Moto. Since his retirement a few years ago, Staebler had become a history buff, and had frequently appeared on local radio shows discussing early Ann Arbor history. Staebler was the grandson of an early Ann Arbor pioneer family, who first came to Lodi Township in 1831. His grandfather was Frederick Staebler and his father, Michael Staebler, and his mother, Katherine Paul. He attended Ann Arbor High School and then the University of Michigan. At one time he served as president of Staebler Realty Co. and of Staebler & Sons, Inc. He was a member of the Elks and the Masons. He is survived by four nieces, Clara Staebler Hester, of Ann Arbor; Edith Staebler Kempf of Ann Arbor; Mrs. Bernice Malcolm of Richmond, Ind.; and Phyllis Johnson of Bloomfield Hills; and four nephews, Paul O. Staebler of Cleveland; Neil Staebler of Ann Arbor; Richard Staebler of Kalamazoo; and Warren Staebler of Ann Arbor. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Theodore Trost officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hili Cemetery. Friends may cali beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation.